The trading day began with a contract rollover to June (M) at 8:40 AM. Shortly after, both the lower and upper target zones outlined in the prior day’s Daily Trade Strategy were fulfilled.

PTGDavid then provided a Bear Scenario, in which a sustained offer below 5680+- would target 5660 – 5655, and a Bull Scenario, where a sustained bid above 5680+- would aim for 5695 – 5700.

Early indications at 9:33 AM leaned toward a long bias, with 5716 highlighted as a key D-Level. Shortly thereafter, an AAA Strategy was referenced, emphasizing Alignment, Assignment, and Action.

By 9:41 AM, the first NQ Open Range Long Target 1 was hit. PTGDavid advised traders to look for renewed buying opportunities on pullbacks to the Open Range, setting the next target zone at 5726 – 5731.

Around 9:52 AM, a strong buy response from 5706 was noted, coinciding with ATR7 support, a level that Jimbo identified as holding firm on a second test.

As the morning progressed, PTGDavid warned that a break of the Open Range High (5706) could open a “trap door” lower toward the 5695 – 5692 zone. However, price action remained within a 5705 – 5725 sandbox, with dips still favoring long plays until a structural shift occurred.

By mid-morning, additional trade executions were noted:

• 10:42 AM: CL Open Range Short Target 1 filled.
• 10:42 AM: NQ Open Range Long Stop Trail elected.
• 11:01 AM: A VWAP buy response signaled continued bullish resilience.

Momentum remained choppy due to the ongoing rollover process, with PTGDavid commenting on the efficiency of maintaining balanced volume.

During the early afternoon, the market remained within its Open Range Zone, leading PTGDavid to step away for a lunch break at 12:02 PM. When he returned at 1:37 PM, bulls were making a strong push toward session highs. The 5731 target was achieved at 1:45 PM, followed by the 5743 target at 2:15 PM. The slow grind upward continued, with PTGDavid attributing some of the bullish energy to St. Patrick’s Day luck.

By the late afternoon, the central pivot held as support, and Bruce F humorously noted, “The Bear missed the train and now he’s walking.” PTGDavid confirmed that if traders had missed the move, they would need to wait for the next opportunity. The day wrapped up with a positive three-day cycle completion, followed by a MOC (Market on Close) sell imbalance of $3 billion at 3:55 PM.

Educational Takeaway:

Today’s session demonstrated the importance of trading within structure, reacting to key levels, and adapting to market conditions. The execution of the Open Range strategy, combined with ATR7 and VWAP confirmations, provided reliable trade setups. The rollover process required patience, as volume balance dictated price efficiency. Lastly, the significance of targeting zones and trailing stops was evident, reinforcing the need for traders to plan, execute, and adjust based on market behavior rather than reacting emotionally.